Control for spray equipment



Nov. 24, 1953 c. A. FREsE CONTROL FOR SPRAY EQUIPMENT Filed Nov. 6, 1950 (Maf/veg. @55

`Patented Nov. 24, l1953 sans CONTROL FOR SPRAY EQUIPMENT Clarence A. Frese, Hudson, Mich., assigner to The Hardie Manufacturing Company, Hudson, Mich.,.a corporation of Michigan Y Application November 6, 1950, Serial No. 194,268

(Cl. S-262) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to liquid control in supply lines, especially as having iiow control remote from the delivery or discharge and from such remotelocation in the line determining to and fro flow as to the discharge.

This invention has utility in connection with the handling of solutions or liquids, more particularly as carrying suspension particles, such as pigments, but peculiarly having to do with spray nozzles as for insecticide and stock as well as vegetation treatmentsubstances, wherein upon cutting off of nozzle discharge, there is a drawback to withdraw the solution from the region of the nozzle and clear adjacent portions of the line or duct from allowing the solution to congeal or accumulate sedimentation to an extent to disturb practical succeeding operation of the nozzle or nozzles at varying lapse intervals thereafter.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a trailer tank pump unit, having showing in dotted lines of tractor for hauling thereof, at proximity to which tractor seat there is the control of` this invention; the iigure being somewhat diagrammatic;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary showing of a region of the nozzle for the insecticide projector boom for orchard use in the trailer unit of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section in the i region of the line III -III, Fig. 1showing the control in spray delivery position for insecticide dispersion thru a bank of nozzles;

Fig. lis a view from the left of Fig. 3, with a portion broken away to show the solution flow course toward the nozzles;

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the control, from the right in Fig. 1, on the scale of Fig. 3, with a portion broken away to show the flow at nozzle clearing cut-off for thecontrol; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view from the left of Fig. 5, showing the actuator features for the cut-oil.

A tractor I is shown with a seat 2, and a trailer `hitch connection 3. Ground wheels 4 rollablymount a chassis 5 coupled to the tractor I, by the hitch 3. The chassis 5 carries a housing for a motor or gas engine such as power means 6 to drive a pump or pressure supply means 'I. A tank 8 provides storage for the solution to be sprayed. Forwardly of the tank 8 and carried by the trailer chassis 5 is a diagonally pitched or inclined boom 9 forming a shield for a bank of nozzles of the spray device. The boom 9 provides a housing chamber Il) (Fig. 2) along inv which is a manifold fora series of adjustable nozzles II. A shaft I2 from the power means 6 extends to a fan or air impelling means I3 for supplying thru duct I4 air volume. This supply air may be in pressure as much as two or three ounces to be discharged from the chamber It) at the region of openings I5. This air volume is suicient to form an envelope about the nozzle discharge for promotion of the range and atomizing effectiveness of the nozzles.

The pressure supply means 'I draws agitated solution from the tank 8 and delivers such as a supply into a duct I5, which may be in the range of 1000# per sq. inch in pressure. A duct I'I in its course toward the nozzles has a take-out for sedimentation at a strainer I8 (Fig. 2) from which extends a duct I9 to a manifold 20 as a supply for the nozzles I I.

A bracket 2| in proximity to the seat 2 (Figs. l, 3) has bolts 22 to mount a housing 23. Bolts 24 mount a minor housing or lower section 25 on the main or upper housing section 23.V VA pivot bolt 26 at the opposite side of the housing from the bracket 2I, rockably mounts a lever or actuator arm 27 having a throw pin 23 (Fig. 6) to engage cam way 29 for shifting a plate 30 in a slide way 3l of the housing 23. A washer 32 on the bolt 26 locks the plate 3u to be held for sliding in the way 3l. The plate 30 has an oiiset end 33 at which nuts 34 adjust assembly therewith of a plunger 35 extending thru a gland 36 into a chamber 3l in the housing 23.

At the nozzle operating position of the controller, the arm 2l is so positioned that thru its offset 33, the plunger 35 is in down or retracted position. This means that a check valve or ball 38 is on a seat 39 on the end of a sleeve element or throat 39 thereby shutting off flow from aV chamber 43 in the housing 23 to the chamber 31 in said housing. A closure plug 4I aligned with the plunger 35 and the seat 39 for the ball valve 38 adjustably mounts a cage 42 having flow openings 43 and notches 44 (Fig. 5) for ready flow to operate the check valve for gravity seating toward the plunger 35. This means that as the plungerV 35 is retracted, theV ball `38 is on the seatV 39 and this control `check valve is closed. However, as the plunger 35 is lifted, the ball 33 is shifted away from the seat 38 into the cage 42, and there is i'low communication from the chamber 43 to the chamber 3l.

The housing 25 has a iitting connection 45 (Fig. 3)V for the high pressure carrying supply duct I6 from the means l. A jet tip 46 in the housing 25 is directed into the throat of a Venturi section 41 in the housing 23 in communication with the chamber 40. The controller comprises the major housing 23, a minor housing section 25. The section 25 provides port connection for the rst duct l1 spaced by the jet 46 from the second duct entrance port. The venturi 41 is in a rst leg of an inverted U- shaped Way which is connected by a crossover 40 to the second leg of the llc-shaped way having the chamber- 3l and the third duct 5| therefrom. However, with the ball valve 38 closed, the jet 46 has its .discharge into a chamber 48 in the. section 25 for outow by a tting 49 to the duct l1 thus directing the high pressure solution to flow past the strainer I8 tothe nozzles l I and in discharge therefrom in the envelope of air from the chamber l0 at the boom 9, forms a mist in its directed discharge into orchard trees.

As the end of a row is reached, or there be other occasion for stoppage interval, the tractor driver who determines the speed of travel, its direction and other adjustments, may throw the arm or handle 2l (Figs. 5, 6)., to unseat the hall 3.8i from. its. closed position on. thel seat 3.9.. The pressure inflow from the. doctor line |.6, continues, but ther Venturi nozzle or Section. 41 is now ofrective, as; an injector for bringing back from the line I l residue therein..

'1 -The, line I1 isA cleared of possible sedimentation therein of spraying solution at the nozzle proxirnity thereto. due to the action of the venturi, 4.1 into. the chamber 40. With the valve ball 3B; now; unseatedf, this induced flow due to the venturi is from the. chamber 4l)y into the chamber 3:11 with a. hittingI 5.0 providing outlet therefrom by` a duct or line 5.I extending. to the Supply tankA 8... rlhis. deposit.` is in the tank 8 for agitation to keep the solids in suspension. Flow actuation means l; promotes circulation of the suspension-carrying liquid to they nozzles. as spraying operation mayv bev continued or again undertaken.

Importance residesA here, notl only inthe upkeep, of the equinmentin having. the nozzles and passages, thereto emptied against: drying in or sedimentation deposittherealong. butthissnecial upkeep. @arev is. inciden-tal to according attention tothe normal operation4 off-the equipment. Fur;- thermore, this solution volume is notY leftto.) drain out. as Waste from. thenozzles. andducts thereto, but is. a material economy,Y factor in, that all solution not as. nozzle. directed toward. the. foliage or. trees to4 be treated.. is in. total; volumev forthwith reclaimed by how. back; tti-rui the. duct, 5.1 to the supply tank 8:. UnderY this. practiceA the, tractor drivermayturn on the equipmentior thenozzles. to be effective in spraying. at the. entrance end offarow of'trees. For agapl in the roW, as Well as.l atroW,1 end, misuse of the. solution is avoided', by the` simple `operation of the oonvenientl'yY ac-V cessiblefhand: lever or arm; 2 1.l At the turngon, whether in thelapseoi seconds or minutes, there is. enicient resupply in spraying by; the pre,- cleansed ductsand nozzles to begine` at the; very region to'. be thus serviced'. The. lapse interval has notbesmeared the interveningY ground area, for there hasnotxbeen. dripping from. the nozzles.

There is importance in locating the control conveniently for the one controlling the transit. Bolt openings 52 (Fig. 5) provide for variation on mounting the housing for the control.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In spray solution equipment wherein said solution carriesV solid particles suspended therein causing rapid wear of a valve, a housing providing a chamber, rst and second ducts communicating with said chamber, a jet and venturi aligned with the second duct for supplying said solution to said chamber, a third duct leading from said chamber for conducting said solution from said chamber, a sleeve element in said chamber at the third ductproviding an annular seat, a valve ball in saidA chamber between said sleeve element and said first and second ducts, a cage in said chamber for said valve ball permitting rotation of said valve ball and movement of said valve ball toward and away from said seatv in said sleeve element whereby said valver ball may: engage said seat at different rings of contact on said ball each time said ball seats, a plunger movable into saldi sleeveelement. from said third duct side of said chamber for moving and` positioning said valve ball away from said seat for flow. from. the second duetto act thru the venturi for promoting now fromv the first duct to-pass. the. venturi and thru. the sleeve element to the third duct, and manual lever means. for operating said plunger.

2. A uidllow controller comprising a housing having an inverted Uv-shaped way therein, the first leg ofthe U-shaped way having an upwardlyr directed venturi therein, a fitting connected to thel housing and having a rst port ,there being a pressure duct second port in the fittinghaving a jet directed into the venturi, said jet spacing the first port from the second port, said Ushaped way having a crossover portion, the second leg of the U-shaped way having a ball valve seat adjacent the crossover portion of the U-Shaped way, a ball valve shiftable toward the second leg to close the seat, said' housingv having a discharge third; port from the second leg in flow communication with the venturi: upon unseating of the ball, and a manually controllable plunger in the second leg to thrust the'ball away from its seat for pressure discharge from the jet to in-V duce flow from the-rst port into the-venturi and flow in the U-shaped way totheY third port;

CLARENCE A. FRESE.

References Cited in thezle of.' this` patent UNITED STATES" PATENTS Number Name Date,

1,393,555 Lockyer Oct. 11.71921. 1,638,758-y Boyett5 .i Aug. 9, 1927 1,980,427l Parker, Nov. 131934 1,987,649 Wertz Jan. 1E,l 1,935. 2,476,960 Daugherty July- 2.6,- 1949 2,480,346 Watts Aug; 30,1949.- 2,525,256- Byraln -,...QCt., 1-0', 14950,A 2,537,266, Granberg Jan. 9, 1951 

